On the way toward reshaping the more than half-century relationship between the War Memorial Center and the Milwaukee Art Museum, old history and simmering resentments are threatening to disrupt a planned $25 million overhaul of the iconic lakefront temple that's home to the museum and local veterans groups.

Revenue from a parking lot and who controls land on the north side of the center have become the final battleground in a dispute that has its roots in a 1997 amendment to the long-term lease the War Memorial Center has with the county on the building. A 2001 revision to the '97 pact was intended to put the dispute to rest. | Feb. 4, 2013»Read Full Article(34)

A string of hit anthems launched by the massive "We Are Young," two major Grammys for best new artist and song of the year, and now another first Thursday night at the Marcus Amphitheater. Looking out at the near-capacity shed, frontman Nate Ruess announced, "This is the biggest show we've ever played in our whole entire life." | June 28, 2013»Read Full Article(1)

Dropkick Murphys

Celtic-punk-folk band Dropkick Murphys is nearly 20 years old and no fewer than nine studio albums into its career. But part of this band's show is that you need not keep up with all of the recorded output to have fun. You can expect a celebration and fit right in. And the capacity crowd Thursday at the Miller Lite Oasis did just that. | June 28, 2013»Read Full Article

Fest experience: The son of local musician Cecilio Negron, Negron Jr., 37, recalls going to Summerfest to see his father play beginning when he was 14. His father has performed at Summerfest at least 10 times. | June 28, 2013»Read Full Article

Major technical problems. Strong competition. The odds were stacked against Hydra Melody at the Land the Big Gig finals Thursday at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard. Yet its relentless energy and cutting-edge musicianship earned the six-piece from San Antonio, Texas, the competition's $20,000 grand prize.

Just an hour before winning, frontman Jordan Berlanga looked sick as the band grappled with how it was going to put on a show after host and judge Danny Gokey said its sound system was "fried." The band's set was delayed by at least 30 minutes. and when it did perform, Gokey told the crowd that the makeshift sound system put the group at a disadvantage. | June 27, 2013»Read Full Article

When Thomas Rhett enrolled at Lipscomb University in Nashville, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. But laying floors like he had during summer vacations sure wasn't it. Even though his father, Rhett Akins, was a successful country artist, the music Rhett and his friends played at area frat parties on weekends sure didn't feel like a career, either. | June 27, 2013»Read Full Article

It's the time of year for oohs and aaahs — and the year's biggest birthday party.

The biggest and loudest bash for Independence Day, of course is at the lakefront, where a few hundred thousand people will gather Wednesday for the U.S. Bank Fireworks, starting about 9:30 p.m. over Lake Michigan near Veterans Park. | June 27, 2013»Read Full Article

Hey there, Summerfesters it's day two of your favorite Milwaukee musical holiday, which means you've probably taken some pictures. Well, the Journal Sentinel want to see them!

Send your goofiest selfies, wackiest outfits, strangest culinary choices or just a nice shot of you and your family at the Marcus Amphitheater any fest photos, to summerfest@jsnewsroom.com. You'll see your pictures in our reader photo gallery (and be practically as famous as the artists on the stage). | June 27, 2013»Read Full Article

Richard Davis, a bassist and a professor of music at the University of Wisconsin — Madison, has been named one of the 2014 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters, one of the highest honors for an American jazz musician.

His three 2014 fellow masters are among the nation's most elite jazz figures: Keith Jarrett, one of the leading improvising pianists ever; Anthony Braxton, a pioneering avant-garde saxophonist; and Jamey Aebersold, whose Play-A-Long series of educational recordings has been used by countless musicians. | June 27, 2013»Read Full Article(2)

Nikki Williams, the budding pop singer whose club-ready track "Glowing" is lighting up on radio and YouTube, has dropped out as Pitbull's Summerfest opener at the Marcus Amphitheater on Sunday because of a scheduling conflict, confirmed Bob Babisch, Summerfest's vice president of entertainment.

In her place will be Chicago-based DJ group the Jump Smokers, which was booked for Pitbull's summer tour with Ke$ha, just initially not the Milwaukee date. In a recent YouTube video (see below), Pitbull said, "Pretty soon it's going to be Jump Smokers and Pitbull opening for them." | June 27, 2013»Read Full Article